Page 14 of Starting Over
“I… I…” Jude tried to swallow once more, but his mouth was so fucking dry he had no spit to soothe his painfully knotted up throat.
“Jude, I know I was wrong. Smoky and I both know we could have handled the baby talk better. We just needed time… I mean, I don’t know the first thing about having a baby and I’ve been terrified at the thought of even holding one. I just… please, Jude, I want to talk about this. Smoky wants to talk about this, we just need you to come home.”
“I can’t,” Jude barely rasped, then pushed harder, to say, “I’m sorry.”
“Then we’ll come to you. Just tell me where you are,” Casper begged.
A glass was set on the table next to Jude, and a gentle hand placed on his shoulder. Looking up Rain mouthed, “Talk to him,” then he walked away.
Jude took a sip of the water Rain had brought him. Pushing the cool liquid past the lump, Jude put it down then was finally able to speak. “I… I tried talking to you, Rance. Y… you wouldn’t talk to me.”
“I know, baby. I know and I’m so sorry. I swear to you, when we are together, I’ll talk to you about anything you want to talk about. Just please come home,” Casper begged.
“I’m not ready to do that yet. Too much is going on there and I don’t want to be a distraction,” Jude replied.
Casper let out a growl, “You are not a distraction for anyone. Everyone would be thrilled if you came home.”
“I can’t do that. I… I’m trying, Rance. I just… I need to think, and…”
“Then tell us where you are. Please, Jude. We need to fix this.”
Sighing, Jude said, “I know you guys weren’t trying to ignore me. You were thinking the way you need to do it, but it hurt, Rance. It hurt so fucking much.”
“I know, baby. I mean I didn’t at the time and I don’t know how I didn’t see it. Neither does Smoky. We just… we were in our own heads. It isn’t an excuse and I promise we will never do it again,” Casper said, sounding choked up and in pain.
Jude felt tears sliding down his face. He needed his mate, but he also needed his dragon. “Where’s Smoky?”
“He has been connected to me for a week now. He doesn’t come out to talk to anyone. Not even me,” Casper admitted.
Jude gasped, “Put me on speaker?”
It took a moment, and his mate finally said, “You’re on speaker.”
Without missing a beat, Jude shouted, “Smoky! Smoky, come and talk to me!”
Nothing.
“Smoky, damn you. You can’t ignore me for months and then not talk to me now. We can’t fix this if we don’t talk. Now peel your flat ass off of Rance and talk to me.”
“J… Jude?”
Oh gods be damned, his maharishi sounded so fucking weak.
“I’m going to tell you where I am. You’re too weak to fly right now, Smoky, so you’re going to have to suck it up and take a flight. Until then, I expect you to strengthen yourself. There’s a small airport here, but you’re going to have to switch off in Montreal in order to get here. Do you hear me? You need to get here, I need you. Danger is coming my way.”
“What the fuck? What do you mean danger is coming your way?” Casper shouted.
“I’ll explain it when you get here,” Jude said, then gave his mate his location.
Jude knew his mates would be here by morning. He just hoped that his dragon would survive the trip.
CHAPTER 6
Wyatt watched the cabin while Ryan did a perimeter sweep and the others slept at their makeshift campsite.
It hadn’t taken them long to find Rain once they’d hit Harricana Road, and Asod had taken to his dragon form and flown over the forest area. He’d quickly found Jude’s vehicle and they had made their way to the opposite side of the river in order to continue watching, knowing that soon enough Danny would be showing up, because if they could find Rain, Danny most assuredly would as well.
Wyatt figured Rain must not have known a lot about Danny since he stayed in the area.